Batter&#39;s front foot guide



Oct. 31, 1967 s. E. KlLE ETAL 3,350,096

BATTER S I FRONT FOOT GUIDE Filed July 9, 1965 INVENTORS SAMUEL E. KILE HOWARD F. MCCLAIN AGENT United States Patent 3,350,096 BATTERS FRONT FOOT GUIDE Samuel E. Kile, 1331 Joseph Ave., Box 53, Warner Robins, Ga. 31093, and Howard F. McClain, 1452 E. Broad St, Athens, Ga. 30601 Filed July 9, 1965, Ser. No. 470,741 11 Claims. (Cl. 27326) This invention relates to an instruction or practice method and device for batters as in baseball.

The invention has been found useful in enabling young boys and rookie players in particular to develop a proper batting stance and thereby improve the subsequent motions of the body as a whole so that the ball is hit with the full power of the batter. The invention is for batting practice only as distinguished from hit and then run procedure.

It is contemplated that the invention will be used while instruction is being given and that the beginner be outfitted with usual safety equipment such as a helmet, sliding pads and the like.

A primary object of the invention is to constrain the batter from stepping out of the batters box and to encourage him to stand up toward the plate.

A second object is to restrict the batter generally in his foot movement so as to maintain his body as a'whole in such a position that he may begin stepping toward the oncoming ball immediately before striking at it without being impaired by improper shifting of the body. Fear of being hit by the ball usually results in the novice throwing the front foot out of the batters box and having no follow-through power. A particular object is to prevent this throwing of the front foot.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device that will function to attain the above objects and be economical to manufacture and be durable enough to avoid need of excessive repair or replacement.

A further object is to provide such a device that is safe in use and still another object is to provide such a device whose mode of operation will be suitable for the young beginner as well as the older, and is also equally useful to the professional.

The attainment of these and other objects, which will be apparent from later description, is accomplished by means of a batters front foot guide which, briefly described, includes a track member or members generally parallel with the side lines of the batters box, a movable foot piece carried substantially on the track member for movement generally parallel with the sides of the batters box, and means for attaching one of the batters feet to the foot piece.

In the accompanying drawing showing, by way of example, several of many possible embodiments of the invention:

FIG. 1 is an isometric of the device;

FIG. 2 is an isometric of one form of foot piece of FIG. 1 and including carrying means therefor;

FIG. 3 is a plan diagram showing use of the device;

FIG. 4 showing adjusting means for the track members of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 shows a modified form of a detail of construction;

FIG. 6 shows a further modification of construction;

FIG. 7 shows a protective element in cross section.

One simplified preferred form of construction of our invention is shown in FIG. 1 in conjunction with the well-known batters box outlined by suitable markings 9 and 10, with side lines 9 parallel to the usual path of oncoming pitched balls and located on the ground or other level foundation as outlined by the dotted lines 11 adjacent to the home plate 12.

The construction as shown in FIG. 1, together with de- 3,35%,995 Patented Oct. 31, 1967 tails as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, includes a pair of substantially straight and parallel track members such as rods, wires or cords 13 positioned just above the ground level along the respective side lines 9 or the batters box and between two pairs of front and rear stakes, 14 and 15 which may also take the form of pegs, pins, bolts, bolt eyes or the like positioned near the corners of the batters box. The tracks may be held more or less taut by tension springs 16 interposed between the stakes and the tracks.

A transverse slide assembly, generally designated 18 shown in greater detail in FIG. 2 and having opposite ends 19 slidably attached to the respective tracks 13 carries in its mid portion a foot or shoe piece 21 shown in the form of a strip of metal or other material extending forwardly having a mid portion 22, adapted to engage under the arch portion of a shoe, with flanges 24 and 25 upturned at each end.

A flexible or elastic strap band 26 secured at one end to one flange and having a clasp or hook 28 at the other end to fasten it to the other flange as in a slot 29 is used to hold or bind the batters shoe on the shoe piece by the strap being stretched tightly over the instep of the shoe.

Preferably the slide member or carriage means 18 is of wire having eyes 30 at each end, through which eyes the track rods or wires 13 pass, and having tension springs 31 interposed between a flange of the shoe piece 21 and the eyes. It is advantageous to have the springs 31 provided with nearly closed hooks 34 for almost permanent attachment of the springs or wire to the shoe piece by having the hooks received in laterally spaced holes 32 in the flange 25, so that when the slide member is taut, the shoe piece tends to assume a position parallel with the sides of the batters box and exert a very mild urge against turning of the batters foot. The flange designated 24 may also be provided with hook holes 32 so that the shoe piece may be reversed on the hooks 34. That is to say, the clasp 28 can be at the inner side of the shoe or the entire foot piece may be mounted on the near side of the slide member 18.

In operation, the right handed batter stands with his right foot to the rear, generally in the position R in FIG. 3 and his left foot forward as at F and shackled to the slide member. In getting ready to hit, the batter twists backward with his weight on his right foot. In hitting, he swings by uncoiling his hip, shoulder and arms in that order and strides forward with the left foot to a position designated F so as to get the weight and force of his body into or behind the swing and follow through.

During the forward stride with the left foot, the slide member is raised somewhat from the ground and is dragged forward to the position shown in dotted lines by the motion of the attached left foot. The track wires may be somewhat bowed inwardly but this does not cause harm if the tension springs do not allow excessive movement of the foot toward the sides of the box. There is also some restraint against excessive outward turning of the foot, although some twisting of this foot is normal and desirable.

The batter can move away from a ball that is thrown close to him by merely moving his right or rear foot well out of the box, but if, as a novice, the batter tries to throw his left or forward foot to the side of the box and shift his weight away from the plate, the constraint on this foot causes him to sit down quite suddenly in the box. This sudden sitting down is not harmful to small boys particularly when their practice suits are suitable, yet they generally learn quickly that they are jarred less when a ball hits them on their padded hips.

It is obvious that the invention cannot enable every user to become highly proficient and that some degree of care and attention is required to insure that he will not be hurt in his practice and is to receive optimum benefit from the invention. The yieldabilityof the tension springs 16 and 31 must be chosen to suit the needs of each batter according to his size and strength, for instance, but this is usually easily determined by either the batter himself or by a reasonably competent coach or instructor.

The extent of yielding by the transverse springs 31 is generally not too critical since the track wires may be pulled inwardly when the slide member is near their mid portions. This permits some movement of the forward foot for the batter to avoid being hit by a ball coming too close. On the other hand, when he strides forward to hit a ball, with the slide member approaching the forward end of the track wires, there is less lateral yieldability and the front foot is constrained against being thrown out of the box. Of course there is need for some lateral movement of the foot and it is here that the springs 31 especially serve the purpose.

By having the track wires only slightly above the ground at each end, there is little danger of tripping over them with the rear foot. This is usually no problem at all but there is a greater possibility if the batter has developed bad habits in prior hitting and running. Of course the stakes can be sunk deeper if there is a danger, yet the slide member must remain slidable. The lift of the forward foot tends to insure slideability especially in the mid-portions of the track.

Since the invention should desirably have some degree of versatility, or adjustability, the springs are all preferably detachable from their adjoining members so as to be replaceable by stronger or weaker springs according to the needs of the user. Thus, for example all of the springs 16 in FIG. 1 are preferably of the type provided at both ends with terminal hooks substantially closing upon themselves to prevent accidental disconnection. Of course, if the stakes or pins 14 and are sunk in the ground their position can be varied by redriving the stakes in different sites to vary tension and restrained position or location of the track wires. However if the foundation 11 be, say, a plywood sheet for indoor use or portability, it is usually desirable that the pins, or in such case eye bolts, 14 and 15 remain in fixed position and the tensions be varied by replacement of the spring or by a screw adjustment such as shown in FIG. 4 wherein an adjusting screw 36 passes through the pin or eye bolt and carries a swivel block 38 to which the spring is attached.

In another form of construction, the transverse member or carriage means may be a woven strap as at 18a in FIG. 5, fitting tightly in vertical slits 32a in the rear flange 25a of the foot piece to permit lateral adjustability of the foot piece between the track members 13. Snap hooks 30a may be substituted for the eyes 30 at each end of the transverse member. In this form yieldability during operation is due entirely to springs 16.

Many refinements of the invention will be obvious to the designer skilled in the art such as in FIG. 6 showing the use of pulley blocks 39 having opposed wheels or sheaves 40 and 41 with the track members 13 between the sheaves instead of in the eyes 30 so as to reduce wear and friction especially when the track members are cords or cables. The track members may be stiif with or without the omission of the springs 16.

The use of the wheeled blocks permits use of substantially rigid track members and of other than round cross section, in which case the transverse springs must be more yieldable. This modification includes, generally, wheels rollable on a track and held in engagement therewith, and a resilient connection between the shoe piece and mounting means for the wheels so that movement of the shoe piece lengthwise of the box is relatively free, but the connection from the track to the shoe piece normally constrains lateral movement to the area within the box.

Additionally, safety elements may be provided, much as in FIG. 7 where a protective mushroom shaped head 42 tops the pins 14-15 to prevent injury if one falls over or upon the pin.

While the device as shown in the drawing and description of operation is positioned at the left of home plate, as for a right-handed batter, it is obvious that it can as readily be positioned to the right of home plate for use by one batting left-handed.

It will also be obvious that varying forms of construction and modifications can be utilized to obtain the desired result. The construction shown in the accompanying drawing and description is for purpose of demonstration only and the invention is not to be limited thereby.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as novel and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A guide for restricting movement of a batters foot relative to a batters box during batting practice comprising track means extending longitudinally of the batters box, a movable foot piece, means for attaching one of the batters feet to the foot piece, and resilient connecting means interposed between the foot piece and the track means.

2. A guide for limiting movement of a batters foot relative to a batters box during batting practice comprising track means mounted on a foundation normally bearing the markings of the box, the track means extending in a direction substantially parallel with the side lines of the box; a foot piece for attachment to a foot of the batter; carriage means for substantially free movement along the track means, and resilient connecting means interposed between the foot piece and the carriage means for allowing foot motion relative to the carriage means and the track means and yet substantially restricting the foot motion to the zone between the side lines of the box.

3. A guide for limiting movement of a batters front foot during batting practice on oncoming balls in a generally common path, said guide comprising track means extending generally parallel with the path of the oncoming balls to be batted and mounted on the foundation on which the batter is to stand; a foot piece for attachment to the foot of the batter; carriage means on the track means for substantially free movement along the track means, and connecting means connecting the carriage means and the foot piece for substantially limiting motion of the foot in a plane to which said path is transverse.

4. A guide for limiting movement of a batters front foot during batting practice in a batters box and comprising a pair of substantially parallel track members; mounting means for mounting the track members on a firm foundation having an upper surface substantially as large as the box; a transverse member having at opposite end portions mounting means for the transverse member and receiving the respective track members therethrough and movable along the track; foot piece means on the mid portion of the transverse member for attaching the batters front foot substantially thereto, and at least one of said members having at least one yieldable element interposed between the mounting means and mid portion of such member to permit restricted movement of the foot piece means in a direction transverse to the general direction of the track.

5. A guide as claimed in claim 4, said elements being at least two in number, the track members being bendable, substantially cylindrical and long and tensioned between said mounting means for mounting the track by said elements.

6. A guide as claimed in claim 5, said end portions being pulley blocks each having a wheel engaging on one of the respective track members.

7. A guide as claimed in claim 5, there being two yieldable elements interposed in the transverse member and the mid portion of the latter being between these two yieldable elements.

8. A guide as claimed in claim 4 said end portions of the transverse member each having an eye as said means receiving the respective track members.

9. A baseball batters front foot guide for batting practice in a batters box comprising four pin members mounted substantially erect near the corners of the batters box; a pair of track members extending substantially along the side lines of the box between respective pairs of pin members and carried thereon; tension springs interposed between the track members and pin members for keeping the track members generally taut; a yieldable transverse member having eye means at the opposite ends thereof and mounted on the track members for movement therealong, the track members passing through the respective eye means and the normal length of the transverse member being about equal to the distance between the side lines of the batters box, and means for attaching the foot of the batter to the transverse member between the eye means thereof.

10. A guide as claimed in claim 9, and means for varying the tension of the track members.

11. A method for teaching a baseball batter to keep his front foot between the side lines of a batters box comprising attaching the front foot to a foot piece freely movable along a track in a direction generally parallel with sides of the batters box, and urging the foot piece to remain in a path generally parallel with the track by a force approximately proportional to the deviation of the foot piece from said path.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,189,613 2/1940 Paulsen 273-187 2,941,808 6/1960 Smith 273187 3,300,219 1/1967 Sipos 273187 ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner. 

1. A GUIDE FOR RESTRICTING MOVEMENT OF A BATTER''S FOOT RELATIVE TO A BATTER''S BOX DURING BATTING PRACTICE COMPRISING TRACK MEANS EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY OF THE BATTER''S BOX, A MOVABLE FOOT PIECE, MEANS FOR ATTACHING ONE OF THE BATTER''S FEET TO THE FOOT PIECE, AND RESILIENT CONNECTING 